2015 Award Recipient Friend of Agriculture Joan Petzen
Joan Petzen grew up a farm girl in the Genesee Valley Town of York on Registered Holstein dairy and processing vegetable farm. During her youth she was active in both 4-H and the New York Junior Holstein Association. Joan exhibited cattle at county fairs and the New York State Fair. She was recognized as Livingston County’s Outstanding 4-H member in 1974. In 1976 she was the New York State Distinguished Holstein Girl. Leadership started early in her life as a 4-H Club President of the largest club in the county. As director with Holstein she chaired an effort to develop the first NY Junior Holstein Leadership Conference for members across the state employing partnerships with FFA, 4-H and Farm Bureau.
Following graduation from Cornell University with a dual major in Animal Science and Agricultural Economics, Joan returned to the home farm in York for 3 years, and worked as herdsman at Lime Hollow Farm in the Cortland Valley. In 1984 she joined the ranks of Cattaraugus County Cooperative Extension focusing on farm business management education as an associate agent. In 1987, she was appointed Agriculture Program Leader.
Joan’s early work in business management uncovered the need for more a focus on developing organizations that would provide needed services to local farms. She helped to lay the foundation for what is now the Western New York Crop Management Association by working with participants in Cooperative Extension’s Project Crop Management to draft by-laws and help lift a new organization that now serves 435 farms in 20 New York and 4 Pennsylvania Counties with a staff of 32 people year round and 7 summer scouts providing nutrient management, pest management and concentrate animal feeding operation planning services.
Before Joan began working with participants in an alternative agriculture course to find ways to help them market their products direct to consumers, there were no community farmers markets in Cattaraugus or Allegany Counties. Joan brought together farmers and community leaders to establish farmers markets in Olean, Salamanca, Wellsville and Franklinville. These markets and more are now an integral part of several local communities across the Southern Tier.
Business and financial analysis, assisting farm families with succession planning for getting the next generation involved in the business and evaluating opportunities to grow the business bottom line for farm families. Working in this arena requires active listening, confidentiality and compassion. Helping family members to focus on common goals allows businesses to transition from one generation to the next creating a legacy of family farming. Joan has a deep understanding of family farm values that has enabled her to assist numerous farm families with this process.
So what has Joan been up to since 2008 when she accepted an opportunity to serve Wyoming County? Joan has continued her farm business management focus. She jumped into a pilot project with six local farms that has evolved into the statewide Dairy Profit Team Program which provides cost sharing through the New York Farm Viability Institute for farms to try bringing their key advisors together for regular meeting focused on addressing a challenge the business is facing, to guide operations or to help the farm implement a major change. She now works with the Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Team that serves 10 counties.
In all that she does, Joan exhibits enthusiasm for agriculture, understands its diversity and above all values the people.
CONGRATULATIONS Joan
